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lannklein's review
1.0
0 ⭐️
As someone who has been experiencing anxiety from a very young age, I am glad I didn’t read this book when I was younger.
Right off the bat the book ‘others’ Fred by calling him “different”. Heaven forbid a child be scared of things they have never experienced.
Excuse me, but if you saw a giant orb entirely void of color suddenly appear in the sky, you would be scared too. That would be an entirely rational response. When we read some of Fred’s ideas of what the orb could be, they are pretty much realistic hypotheses of what could be going on. Good job, Fred.
Enter Coco, our Mary Sue. She sees the giant orb entirely void of color and because she is so much better than Fred she isn’t scared in the slightest. In fact, she is so ImAgInAtIvE she thinks the orb could be all sorts of nice things stopping just short of suggesting rainbows and unicorns. Aww, isn’t that the sweetest? I bet you Coco is the type to see “FREE CANDY” written on the side of a van and hopes they have Snickers as she runs to greet the driver through the back door.
So let me get this straight. When it comes to a potentially dangerous event we are supposed to err on the side of the girl who thinks the orb could be a giant leaf. Then we are supposed to prove we are positive people by putting ourselves in the direct path of the orb. Then finally, we are supposed to go in to the orb (which looks to enter the multiverse). Are you kidding me? How are these good ideas?
Maybe they should have listened to Fred’s instincts on this one.
I would not recommend this book to anyone.
**Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**
As someone who has been experiencing anxiety from a very young age, I am glad I didn’t read this book when I was younger.
Right off the bat the book ‘others’ Fred by calling him “different”. Heaven forbid a child be scared of things they have never experienced.
Excuse me, but if you saw a giant orb entirely void of color suddenly appear in the sky, you would be scared too. That would be an entirely rational response. When we read some of Fred’s ideas of what the orb could be, they are pretty much realistic hypotheses of what could be going on. Good job, Fred.
Enter Coco, our Mary Sue. She sees the giant orb entirely void of color and because she is so much better than Fred she isn’t scared in the slightest. In fact, she is so ImAgInAtIvE she thinks the orb could be all sorts of nice things stopping just short of suggesting rainbows and unicorns. Aww, isn’t that the sweetest? I bet you Coco is the type to see “FREE CANDY” written on the side of a van and hopes they have Snickers as she runs to greet the driver through the back door.
So let me get this straight. When it comes to a potentially dangerous event we are supposed to err on the side of the girl who thinks the orb could be a giant leaf. Then we are supposed to prove we are positive people by putting ourselves in the direct path of the orb. Then finally, we are supposed to go in to the orb (which looks to enter the multiverse). Are you kidding me? How are these good ideas?
Maybe they should have listened to Fred’s instincts on this one.
I would not recommend this book to anyone.
**Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**
pvp_niki's review
5.0
I cannot really tell much more about this book than what is in the description already, the illustrations are cute and colorful and the book really delivers what is proposed, helps small children to learn how to cope with anxiety.
What I really liked in the book was that it represents both perspectives, and none of them in a condescending way and deliberately avoids false positivity and emphasizes that how either of the children views the world is not an absolute truth but perspective. This book not only helps cope with anxiety but also helps others to learn how to help those with anxiety. And all of this is accomplished in very few words.
I like reading books about emotional education written for children even as an adult because I think among all the difficult answers and advice and therapy they are capable of reaching back and inside a very deep part of us and shed some different light on our schemes. They don't replace therapy or self-work of course but I think they are a good reminder and can be effectively used as a source for positive affirmations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC.
What I really liked in the book was that it represents both perspectives, and none of them in a condescending way and deliberately avoids false positivity and emphasizes that how either of the children views the world is not an absolute truth but perspective. This book not only helps cope with anxiety but also helps others to learn how to help those with anxiety. And all of this is accomplished in very few words.
I like reading books about emotional education written for children even as an adult because I think among all the difficult answers and advice and therapy they are capable of reaching back and inside a very deep part of us and shed some different light on our schemes. They don't replace therapy or self-work of course but I think they are a good reminder and can be effectively used as a source for positive affirmations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC.
onepersonbookshow's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
A lovely tale about what it means to feel anxiety and fear, and how to come to terms with those emotions. I highly enjoyed the illustration style, particularly the contrast in the colouring of the images based on what the protagonist, Fred, was feeling.
Overall, a satisfying read that will be able to help younger readers navigate hard emotions.
Overall, a satisfying read that will be able to help younger readers navigate hard emotions.
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